About the Summit
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 was initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to bring Central Asian countries together in partnership with the United Nations to develop shared solutions to climate change. This is more than a single event – it is a two-year preparatory process launched in 2024 and culminating in a high-level Summit in 2026, where coordinated environmental initiatives and mechanisms for regional cooperation will be presented.
The Summit has received broad support from international partners, including the United Nations, the Secretariats of the three Rio Conventions – the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) – as well as UNECE, UNDP, UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, UNIDO, WMO, ILO, OECD, IEA, IRENA, ADB, the World Bank, IWMI, SWITCH-Asia, and other organizations. Notably, the United Nations expressed its support through UN General Assembly Resolution 78/147 of 19 December 2023, “Central Asia Facing Environmental Challenges: Fostering Regional Solidarity for Sustainable Development and Prosperity.”
Support for the initiative has also been reflected in key political documents adopted at the level of Heads of State, including:
- the Karabakh Declaration of the Informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 July 2024, Azerbaijan);
- the Joint Statement of the Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia (9 August 2024, Kazakhstan);
- the Bishkek Declaration of the Eleventh Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (6 November 2024, Kyrgyz Republic).
In 2025, the initiative gained further recognition during the Astana International Forum, the opening ceremony of the UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan with the participation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (Turkmenistan).
The initiative is reflected in the concept of «Bir Tamyr» (Same Root). The word «Tamyr» exists in almost all languages of the region and carries a profound meaning: roots as a symbol of common history and connection to nature, veins as the symbol of pulse and movement within the region, the intertwining of vessels, spirit, and culture. It is a metaphor for connection, resilience, and shared heritage that unites Central Asia not by political borders, but by meaning, memory, and future.
The visual representation of the countries of Central Asia is reflected in the Summit emblem (logo): different in shape, color, and character, yet standing together as a symbol of unity in diversity. The reference to the barcode shape also symbolizes a common space for dialogue and action, modern approaches, innovations, and the technological nature of solutions.
The Summit reflects this image: one region – shared challenges – collective action. It will bring together governments, international organizations, the scientific community, business, civil society, and youth to lay the foundation for a shared, environmentally sustainable future.